My ex-batts have never perched, they snuggle up in their nest boxes. Our new chicks spend all day perching in the trees, on the back of the bench on our swinging chair but at night time they still snuggle up in their broody house together.
We converted a summer house for our hens it was already in situ so cost next to nothing to kit out.
We think 2 our our chicks are boys - any of you chicken keepers up for a c***-a-doodle-doo in the morning?